Spike-driving machine.



A. LIGHTELL.

SPIKE DRIVING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23. I9I8.

1,268,736. Patented June 4,1918.

A. LIGHTELL.

SPIKE DRIVING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23. 1918.

Patented June 4, 1918. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 is NN W I A. LIGHTELL.

SPIKE DRIVING MACHINE, APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23. 1918.

Patented June 4, 1918.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

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farrceg UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ADAM LIGHTELL, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JAMES MURRAY, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

SPIKE-DRIVING MACHINE.

Application filed March 23, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADAM LIGHTELL, citizen of the United States, residing at New Orleans, in parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spike-Driving Machines, of which the following is a specificat1on.

This invention relates to spike driving machines and more particularly to that class for fastening the rail to the tie.

The object of this invention is to produce a machine for driving the spikes which will do the work quickly, easier, and better than the old method of driving the spikes by hand, and whereby the spikes are driven more uniformly than at present.

Another object of my invention is to provide a simple and efficient means for feeding the spikes beneath the hammers preliminary to the driving thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation.

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of one of the spike clamps.

A, represents the main frame and B the running gear which is supported by suitable wheels 11. The forward end of the frame is adapted to extend beyond the running gear and support a substantially U- shaped frame 2. The lower ends 3-3 of this frame are open and the side members 44 thereof are grooved as at 5, to form guides for the vertically movable hammers 66. The frame is of such a width as to bring the hammers directly above the main rail 7, and the hammers are bifurcated as at 8, thereby enabling the hammers to straddle the rail as the spikes 9, are driven in the tie 10. The frame 2 is of suflicient height to allow the hammers to be drawn vertically and dropped by their own weight to effect a substantial blow on the spikes. Any convenient means may be utilized for effecting the vertical movement of the hammers but I preferably desire to use a drum 11, around which is wound the cables 12 and 13, which are in turn connected at their outer free ends to the hammers 6-6.

Inasmuch as the hammers are adapted to act simultaneously the cables 12 and 13 are received upon the common drum 11. Any

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 4:, 1918.

Serial No. 224,217.

convenient means may be utilized for imparting motion to the drum 11, but I prefer to use an electric motor 15, which may derive current from any convenient source.

A suitable clutch mechanism 16, is adapt ed to be thrown in when it is desired to im part motion to the drum 11, and likewise thrown in a reverse position when it is de sired to connect up directly with the car whereby the latter is propelled along the track in obtaining its proper position at intervals for driving the spikes. This clutch mechanism consists preferably of a member 17, having its ends serrated or toothed as at 18, said member being preferably slidable and splined to the shaftj19 which is connected directly to the motor 15. Rotatably mounted on the shaft 19, are two sprocket wheels 20 and 21, which have their inner faces serrated as at 22. It will therefore be seen that as the member 17, is reciprocated upon the shaft 19, by the lever 23, motion will be imparted alternately to the drum 11, through the sprocket chain 24 and to the shaft of the car through the sprocket chain 25.

The mechanism for feeding the spikes 9, into the proper position to be driven by the hammers 66 preferably consist of the following construction. As illustrated in Fig. 3, two sets of feeding mechanism are used in connection with each rail 7, this feeding mechanism consisting of an endless chain 26, which is carried over the sprockets 27, 28 and 29. The sprocket 27 is arranged upon the upper side of the main frame of the car while the sprockets 28 and 29 are suspended from the under side of the car by suitable brackets 30. Arranged at intervals along the endless chain are a plurality of clamps 31. These clamps are secured as at 32, to the chain 26, each having its body portion bent upon itself and the outer free end bifurcated as at 33, thereby forming suitable means for gripping the Spike 9.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the sprockets 28 and 29 are arranged in such a position as to cause the clamps 31, to travel horizontally away from the spike after the latter has been sufiiciently driven into the tie, in order that the clamps may be readily drawn out of the path traveled of the hammer 6. Any convenient means may be employed for imparting motion to the endless chain 26, as for instance, the handle 3%, which isattached directly to the shaft of the sprocket 27.

The several clamps are provided with spikes manually as they pass around the upper sprocket 27 from whence they are delivered in the proper position to be driven into the tie by the hammers 6.

In operation, the sprocket chains are rotated a suflicient distance to cause one of the clamps of each chain to deliver the spike in the properposition above the tie and beneath the hammer 6 whereupon the proper clutch mechanism thrown in to actuate the hammer 6 and as soon as the spike is driven sufliciently into the tie to be rigidly secured the operator again actu-ates the sprocket chain 26 causing the clamps 36 to recede from the spike and out of the path of the travel of the hammer 6, whereupon the driving operation is completed.

As illustrated in Fig. 3, four spikes are simultaneously fed beneath the hammers 66, and each hammer is adapted to drive two spikes simultaneously whereby the four spikes are driven into the one tie in the one operation.

It is obvious that slight changes might be made in the general mechanism without departing from the general scope and principle of this invention, and I do not wish to be limited to the precise construction as disclosed.

I claim:

1. In a railway spike driving machine comprising a truck, spike driving'means arranged thereon and means comprising an endless chain provided with a plurality of gripping clamps for feeding spikes to be driven beneath the spike driving means.

2. In a railway spike driving machine comprising a truck, a substantially U-shaped frame arranged on one end thereof, the lower portion of said frame being provided with vertically disposed channels, movable hammers arranged in said channels, said hammers being provided on their lower ends with notches of such'a width as to straddle the rails and means comprising an endless chain provided with a plurality of clamping members so arranged as to feed spikes to be driven directly beneath the vertically movable hammers.

In a railway spike driving machine comprising a truck spike driving means arranged thereon, and means for delivering spikes beneath the spike driving mechanism comprising an endless chain, sprocket wheels arranged above and below the truck for guiding such chain clamping members arranged along said chain for feeding spikes beneath said driving means, the lower sprockets being so arranged that the said clamping means upon leaving the delivered spike is adapted to travel in substantially horizontal direction. p

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature.

ADAM LIGHTELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. G. 

